Black Bears Spotted Along Dajia River; Forestry Agency Trains Staff on 'Bear Encounter' Protocol

Taiwanese black bears have been increasingly sighted in the middle and upper reaches of the Dajia River, prompting the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Taichung Branch to conduct training for mountain workers. The agency aims to prevent conflicts between humans and bears in mountainous areas.

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The goal is to establish knowledge of how to respond when encountering bears for mountain workers in the central region, to prevent conflicts and maintain the safety of people and bears in the mountains.

The training sessions, held at the Taiwan Power Company's Dajia River Power Plant, target workers from various organizations, including the Taichung Branch, power plant personnel, police units, and highway maintenance crews. The objective is to equip these individuals with the knowledge and skills to handle encounters with black bears safely, ensuring the well-being of both people and wildlife.

Recent observations confirm the bears' presence along the Dajia River. The Nan Shi community on the north bank has documented black bear sightings for years through its bear ecological service program. Evidence of bears has also been found along the Li Leng Forest Road on the south bank, and reports indicate recent sightings within the controlled area of the Tai 8 Line emergency highway. Furthermore, monitoring cameras in the Huanshan and Songmao areas on the north bank, and Jiayang on the south bank, have recorded bear activity in the past year, confirming the Dajia River's middle and upper reaches as a significant bear habitat.

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Proper management of personal food, leftovers, and garbage, carrying bear bells, and correctly using bear spray are practical skills.

Instructors like Kuo Yen-jen from Wild Voice Ecological Consulting emphasized practical prevention techniques. These include proper management of food, leftovers, and garbage; carrying bear bells; and knowing how to use bear spray effectively. Participants learned about the current distribution of Taiwanese black bears, their ecology, and the causes and risks of human-bear conflicts, drawing from both domestic and international case studies. The agency also reminds the public to travel in groups in mountainous areas, remain calm if a bear is encountered, retreat slowly, and avoid any actions that might startle the animal. Immediate reporting of sightings or incidents to the agency is crucial.

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If you encounter a black bear, please remain calm, slowly retreat, and avoid approaching, chasing, or startling the bear.